|
Can you please tell me
what is involved with a brain scan and dye?
First, there are 2 types
of brain scans. The first one is a CT scan, and the second is an MRI
scan.
MRI stands for
magnetic resonance imaging. No radiation is involved. Magnetic and
microwave signals are sent to the body, and picked up by the body's
cells. The body's cells turns these signals into their own type of
energy, which is picked up by the computer of the MRI scanner. The
computer "brain" then draws a picture of the body, based on
the energy the body's cells put out.
The
"cousin" of the MRI scan is the CT or "CAT" scan,
which stands for computerized axial tomography. The MRI scan is best for
looking at organs (liver, kidney, etc.), and is more detailed, but takes
longer. The CT scan is better at checking for bleeding and bone
abnormalities, and is much faster than an MRI scan. The CT scan does
utilize radiation to generate a picture.
The dye used
with a CT scan has iodine in it. This helps to "light up"
different organs, tissues and blood vessels.
The dye used in
MRI scans is called gadolinium. This has the same effect as iodine does
for the CT scan.
Both dyes are
essentially out of your system within minutes to hours. There are side
effects, but not commonly. Approximately 6% of people have a headache,
and 2% experience nausea as a result of the dyes.
That's it in a
nutshell. Dr. Mike
This article was reviewed
04/23/2010 07:24 AM
|